PLANTING TRENDS OVER TIME
Toronto’s urban forest has a mixture of native and non-native tree species, with thousands of different cultivated varieties. Trees of different species and ages growing throughout the city, on streets, in parks, and on private property, reflect the trends and fashions in planting at different periods of the city’s history.

Horsechestnuts were commonly planted in the early to mid-19th century – one of many species introduced from Europe.

Norway maples, tolerant of pollution and drought, were the preferred urban trees in Toronto throughout the 20th century.

The youngest trees, planted just this century, reflect the modern trend to plant species native to Ontario.

The modern approach to developing the urban forest is to:

Wherever possible, plant native shade trees that will become part of the forest canopy

Plant trees and shrubs that will be of value to wildlife, thereby increasing biodiversity